VINCENT v. WILLIAMS (2019)

MEMORANDUM **

Petitioner Lee Vincent appeals from the denial of his petition for writ of habeas corpus under 28 U.S.C. § 2254. We have jurisdiction under 28 U.S.C. §§ 1291 and 2253. Because Petitioner filed his petition in 2010, it is governed by the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996. Killian v. Poole, 282 F.3d 1204, 1207 (9th Cir. 2002). We review the denial of the petition de novo, see id., and we affirm.

1. We review de novo Petitioner’s claim of actual juror bias because it was not adjudicated on the merits in state court. Pirtle v. Morgan, 313 F.3d 1160, 1167 (9th Cir. 2002); see 28 U.S.C. § 2254(d) (applying AEDPA’s deferential standards to claims that were “adjudicated on the merits in State court”). Still, “factual determinations by the state court are presumed correct and can be rebutted only by clear and convincing evidence.” Pirtle, 313 F.3d at 1168; see 28 U.S.C. § 2254(e)(1).

Petitioner has failed to establish actual juror bias. We owe deference to the post-conviction court’s finding that the juror in question was not actually biased. See Patton v. Yount, 467 U.S. 1025, 1036, 104 S.Ct. 2885, 81 L.Ed.2d 847 (1984) (stating that “the partiality of an individual juror․ is plainly [a question] of historical fact”); Lambert v. Blodgett, 393 F.3d 943, 976 (9th Cir. 2004) (stating that “the presumption of correctness in new § 2254(e)(1) is restricted to pure questions of historical fact”). Petitioner has not overcome the presumption of correctness because his argument rests entirely on the same evidence the state court found unpersuasive. See Sophanthavong v. Palmateer, 378 F.3d 859, 867 (9th Cir. 2004).

2. We do not consider implied bias, because Petitioner has not “specifically and distinctly raised and argued” that issue in his opening brief; therefore, he has waived it. Officers for Justice v. Civil Serv. Comm’n of City & Cty. of S.F., 979 F.2d 721, 726 (9th Cir. 1992).

3. Petitioner’s claim of ineffective assistance of trial counsel fails because it is predicated on his meritless claim of actual juror bias. Baumann v. United States, 692 F.2d 565, 572 (9th Cir. 1982) (“The failure to raise a meritless legal argument does not constitute ineffective assistance of counsel.”).

We deny Petitioner’s motion for leave to file a supplemental brief (Docket Entry No. 42).

AFFIRMED.